This Time Next Year(58)

‘Take the girls too, why don’t you?’ said their dad, elbowing Will in the ribs.

‘I’m not her babysitter any more. And they’re underage, they might not get in,’ said Will, walking into the hall to put on his coat.

‘We don’t want to go to your lame party anyway,’ Minnie called after him.

‘OK, well enjoy your fishy fanny film, losers!’ Will called as he shut the front door behind him.

‘Two seventeen-year-old girls with no New Year’s Eve parties to go to. What dimension have I walked into?’ said her dad, shaking his head.

‘The jinx is less likely to get me if I’m home doing nothing,’ Minnie explained. ‘Leila’s keeping me company.’

‘Pfff,’ laughed her dad. ‘So you’re never going to leave the house at New Year again, are you?’

‘Not if I can help it.’

‘Parties are overrated,’ said Leila. ‘Movie marathons and Ben & Jerry’s are where the cool kids are at these days, Mr C.’

‘Well, I’m going down the pub. Big year to celebrate,’ said her dad, leaning over to search the folds of the brown armchair. ‘The year 2008 is going to be the one we Coopers make our fortune.’

‘Dad’s building a property empire,’ Minnie explained. ‘Thinks he’s going to be the next Donald Trump.’

Her dad grinned as he pulled his house keys out from the depths of the armchair.

‘You watch this space girls – we Coopers are going up in the world.’

‘Ooh, let me ask you before you go, Mr C – where do you want to be this time next year?’ Leila asked, clapping her hands together.

‘This time next year?’ Minnie’s dad said, rubbing his chin between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. ‘Well, I’d have a new home office for my property business, one for my clocks, and another one for miscellaneous odds and sods.’

‘It’s supposed to be realistic, Dad,’ said Minnie.

‘OK, then I’d settle for losing two stone so I can see my toes again in the shower,’ he said, letting out a cackling belly laugh.

‘Dad! Gross!’ squealed Minnie. ‘I don’t need that image in my mind!’

‘I’m going, I’m going,’ he marched back through to the hall, still chuckling to himself. ‘Now, I’ve told your ma to come and join us when she gets in. You sure you girls can’t be persuaded? Drinks are on me tonight. Only after midnight for Minnie, mind. I can’t be seen supplying alcohol to a minor,’ he said with a wink as he pulled on his coat.

‘We’re good, thanks Mr C,’ said Leila.

Once her dad had gone, Minnie pulled the wine bottle out from beneath the sofa. Her parents didn’t really mind her drinking alcohol; they only minded her drinking their alcohol.

‘I’m sorry, but now your dad and brother have gone, can I just say, what the fuck is with the clocks?’ Leila asked, hands flying outwards as though she were about to break into a dance routine.

‘I know.’

‘The noise is so annoying.’

‘You get used to it.’

‘Are your parents like obsessed with knowing the time or something?’

‘My dad likes fixing old clocks.’

‘I feel like I’m on a game show and the time is ticking down and someone’s about to ask me what the Countdown Conundrum is and I’ve got nothing, nothing I tell you.’ Leila lolled her head back into Minnie’s lap and looked up at her face.

‘Half the clocks don’t even tell the right time. Dad can’t keep up with winding them all.’

‘Don’t ever bring a guy back here, Min, they’d freak out.’

Minnie secured the end of the braid she’d been working on with a tiny elastic band.

‘I’m hardly likely to bring a guy back here, am I?’ Minnie paused. ‘You sure you don’t mind staying in with me, Leils? I don’t want you to miss out on Steve’s party because of me. We know Dan Deaton’s going to be there.’

Minnie picked up another piece of blue hair from the front of Leila’s scalp. She was beginning to regret how small she was doing these plaits. She’d started half an hour ago and was only a quarter of the way up one side of Leila’s head.

‘Nah, if Dan Deaton liked me last week he’ll like me next week too. No New Year’s Eve party’s going to change that,’ Leila shrugged. ‘Plus, my hair’s only half done and we’ve got all these films to watch: Pretty Woman, The Princess Bride … what a line-up.’

‘But I’ll feel bad if Dan Deaton gets off with Hester at that party. You know she’s into him, and with all the magic of fireworks at midnight he might forget how much hotter you are than her?’

Leila pulled her head around to face her friend, making Minnie drop the braid she was working on. ‘Do you want me to stay in and watch movies with you or not?’

Minnie shifted her eyes from side to side as though considering her answer. ‘Yes.’

‘Then stop winding me up about Dan! Honestly, if his head gets turned by a few fireworks, a couple of beers and Hester Finley in a short skirt, then he wasn’t worth having in the first place, was he?’

Leila shook her head, exhaled loudly and turned back to the TV.